Journal of Crop Production and Processing

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In order to evaluate the effects of planting methods and seeding rates on growth characteristics and yield of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), Hamedani cultivar, a field experiment was conducted in 2008 at College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Iran. The experimental design was a completely randomized block with four replicates in a factorial arrangement of the treatments. The factors consisted of planting methods (furrow planting, broadcasting, row planting, and flat bed planting) and alfalfa seeding rates (5, 10, 15, and 20 kg seed ha-1). Results showed that planting methods and seeding rates had a significant effect on forage dry matter so that the highest forage yield in the first and third cuttings was obtained in furrow planting method and 20 kg seed ha-1 and the lowest forage dry weight in the first and third cuttings were obtained in flat bed planting method and 5 kg seed ha-1 and broadcasting method and 10 kg seed ha-1, respectively. Seeding rates also had a significant effect on number of weeds so that maximum and minimum weed numbers were obtained in 20 kg and 5 kg seed ha-1. Our results showed that 20 kg seed ha-1 and furrow planting method was the best treatment to gain maximum forage yield and minimum weed's detrimental impact.

Keywords: Alfalfa, Seeding rate, Forage yield, Weed

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